Ports in Transition in Countries in Transition - The changing situation for ports in Russia and the Baltic states in times of geopolitical and economical transition

by Brodin, Alf

Abstract (Summary)

Ports in Transition in Countries in Transition - The changing situation for ports in Russia and the Baltic states in times of geopolitical and economical transition. Edited by the Department of Human and Economic Geography, University of Göteborg. CHOROS 2000:1. 254 pages. The aim of this study is to describe how the changing geopolitical environment in the former Soviet Union (FSU) has created a new transport geography, and thereby resulted in new patterns of foreign trade routes, port competition and market economic adaptation in the Baltic Sea fringe. The geographical limitation is the western part of the FSU and the Baltic Sea. The time-span is the years from the beginning of the 1990´s until mid 1999. The role of, and situation in, the port sector is here used to describe the difficulties that have faced primarily Russia in the years of transition. In its current extension, Russia faces severe limitations in port capacity compared to the demand generated by domestic industry and raw material producers. Instead, the Baltic states possesses a port capacity that vastly exceeds local demand. A number of proposed Russian projects for new port capacity are described and the Russian North West is set in relation to the Baltic Sea region as a possible competitor. In addition, other changes and developments within the Russian transport- and port-sectors during the years of transition are described. The thesis show that any near future large-scale development of new Russian port capacity is unlikely, and economically hard to motivate, therefore the currant Russian dependence in the port-sector of the Baltic states will remain. The results of a five-year longitudinal Port Survey of Swedish foreign trade with the FSU countries 1993 - 1999, conducted by the author in Swedish ports, is also presented. The purpose has been to thoroughly study the actual flow of cargoes between Sweden and the FSU and at the same time evaluate the official trade statistics presented for this trade relation, which has uncovered substantial divergences. Keywords: Port, transition, Baltic Sea, transport geography, geopolitics, Russia, Baltic states, former Soviet Union, trade statistics,trade relations. ISBN 91-86472-99-2 ISSN 0347-8521 Distributed by: Department of Human and Economic Geography Alf Brodin School of Economics and Commercial Law Printed by Parajett AB Box 630 Landskrona 2000 S-405 30 GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN Sammanfattning Brodin, A. (2000) Ports in Transition in Countries in Transition - The changing situation for ports